Optimal House Size For Families Of 6-8? (We Checked)

If you have a big family, looking for a house to live in and raise the kids can be challenging.

You’d want a house with adequate space for all of the members to feel comfortable in and move around without feeling cramped. You’d want a house with enough room so that each member gets their own personal space.

This article will discuss the optimal house size for a bigger family, with around 4 to 6 kids. We will also be sharing some ways to maximize the space. Read on to learn more.

Here’s The Optimal House Size For Families Of 6 to 8:

For families with 6 to 8 members, the optimal house size is between 3,000 and 4,500 square feet. The ideal house size can vary from one family to another, and it depends on several factors, such as the age and gender of the kids, and the family’s lifestyle, needs, preferences, and budget. 

How Many Rooms Does A Family With 4-6 Kids Need?

Looking for a house for a big family can be challenging. You have to consider the size of the house and the number of rooms that it has because you want each member to feel comfortable in the house.

A family with 4 to 6 kids would need at least 4 bedrooms to live comfortably. This includes a master bedroom for the parents while the remaining rooms would be for the kids to share.

However, this is just the minimum number of rooms. You may need more depending on the age and gender of your kids. The number of rooms you should have can also depend on your budget and whether the kids are willing to share rooms.

It is always ideal to have one room for each kid so that they have their own space for studying, pursuing their hobbies, and storing their stuff, but not everyone can afford this.

Younger kids in the same age bracket would be comfortable sharing rooms. That is until they reach a certain age. Once they’ve outgrown the shared room, they may eventually ask to have separate rooms especially when they reach their teenage years.

While siblings with a huge age gap and of the same gender may be okay with sharing rooms, it’s always good to give older kids their own room to give them a sense of privacy. Having their own space can also help them focus on schoolwork and hobbies with no younger siblings to distract them.

If the kids must share rooms due to budget constraints, there are things you can do to give them some privacy. Adding temporary walls and room dividers can give kids a concept of their own space even in a shared room.

Please also read our article about the optimal sized house for a family of 4-5 people.

What’s The Average House Size For Families Of 6 Vs. 8?

The average house size for big families can depend on the city and state, as the houses in some areas are generally smaller.

In the United States, the average house size for a family of 6 is around 3,000 square feet. Meanwhile, for a family of 8, you would need a bigger house and the average size is around 4,000 square feet.

For a family of 6, a house with 3,000 square footage can easily fit 4 bedrooms and at least 2 bathrooms, which may be enough for some families. Others may need a bigger house with more space and more bedrooms.

On the other hand, a house with 4,000 square footage can be sufficient for a family of 8. A house of this size can easily fit 5 bedrooms and up to 3 bathrooms.

Do take note that the numbers above are just the average house sizes for families of 6 and 8 in the U.S.

Some families, depending on their lifestyle, needs, and preferences, may need a house that’s bigger compared to the ones described above. Some families, particularly those with budget constraints, may find that a smaller house is enough for what they need.

What Is The Minimum Home Size For Two Adults With 4-6 Kids?

The minimum home size for two adults with 4 to 6 kids can depend on several factors. You have to consider the age and gender of the kids. You also have to consider the family’s lifestyle, budget, needs, and preferences.

Building codes and regulations should also be taken into consideration because they can vary per city and state so the minimum home size in your area can also depend on these factors.

As a general guideline, most residential codes state that a single-family home for two adults with at least 4 kids should have an area of at least 2,000 square feet. A bigger house is needed, around 2,500 square feet, if you have 5 or 6 kids.

Even though this is the general guideline, a house of this size can be considered small and may be inadequate if you’re planning to raise your family in it and live there long term.

With 2,000 to 2,500 square feet, you may be able to fit 4 to 5 bedrooms and 2 to 3 bedrooms, plus adequate space for the living room, dining room, and kitchen. For some families, this may be enough while some families may need more space to live comfortably.

The minimum house size for a big family can depend on several factors such as the age and gender of the kids, and the family’s lifestyle, needs, and preferences.

Families with younger kids can live comfortably with 2,000 square feet, provided that the kids are okay with sharing rooms. Families with older kids may need more rooms, especially if the older kids are in their teenage years.

Ultimately, you would want each member of the family to have their own personal space, a place to store their possessions, and a sense of privacy.

How Many Sq. Ft. Should You Have Per Person?

Having adequate living space is very important when deciding how big your house should be. The age and lifestyle of a person are huge factors in determining the amount of living space that they should have.

As a general rule, each family member should have at least 150 square feet of living space, including all habitable areas of the house such as the living spaces and the bedroom.

Even though 150 square feet may be the minimum amount of living space needed per person, this may seem small. For some people, this may be inadequate and they would need more space to live comfortably.

The amount of living space that a person needs generally depends on their age and lifestyle.

Babies and toddlers don’t need a lot of space and kids may only but as a person grows older, they typically need more living space.

Please also read our article about how big tiny houses can be.

Up To What Age Can Kids Share Bedrooms?

With bigger families, it can be common for kids to share bedrooms especially if there aren’t enough rooms in the house.

Some kids may be okay with sharing bedrooms with their siblings especially if they are of the same gender and in the same age bracket. Some kids may even prefer it if they have a close relationship and share common interests with their siblings.

In general, kids of the same gender can share a room until one of them reaches any age between 5 and 10 years old. 

If the kids have a huge age gap, then it may not be okay for them to share a room even if they’re of the same gender. This is because it can be hard to share a room if you don’t share the same interests, which is to be expected when two kids have a big age gap.

Additionally, older kids would typically prefer having their own room so that they can get a sense of privacy, especially when they don’t like having their younger siblings bothering them.

When Do You Need Two Bathrooms?

One bathroom is often enough for a small family but you generally need more bathrooms if you have a bigger family.

You need at least two bathrooms for a family of 6, although three bathrooms would be better.

Having more bathrooms means more flexibility for everyone in the household.

This helps reduce congestion in the bathroom, especially in the mornings when it’s busier as most kids are getting ready for school while the adults are getting ready for work. This also gives everyone adequate time to prepare for the day.

For a family of 6 to 8, it’s best to have three bathrooms – one ensuite bathroom in the master’s bedroom and two other bathrooms for all the kids to share.

What Functions Can You Combine In One Room?

If you have a big family and limited space in the house, making a room multifunctional can help you maximize the space.

Here are some functions that you can combine in one room.

Living Room and Dining Room

Combining the living area and dining area in one room is very common as it’s a great use of space. This would make the space feel more open and inviting as it encourages family members to interact.

Guest Bedroom and Home Office

This is another good combination to maximize the space. A room can function as both a guest bedroom and a home office.

This way, you can get a designated space for work and you can easily convert it to a bedroom whenever you have friends or relatives staying over.

Family Room and Playroom

If you have 4 to 6 kids, then it would be best for them to have a designated playroom. Combining the family room and the kids’ playroom means that the kids will only play in this room. It helps keep the toys and clutter away from other parts of the house.

This setup can also provide more opportunities for the family to bond and spend time with each other.

Home Office and Playroom

You can also combine the home office and the playroom. This is especially useful if you work from home full-time and you have smaller kids. Having a playroom in your home office lets you keep an eye on the little ones while you’re working.

Library, Home Office, and Study Room

Having at least 4 kids can be challenging. Getting them to focus on schoolwork is tough, especially if there are lots of distractions around.

If you have a designated study room, then kids can focus better when they’re doing their schoolwork. This room can also function as a home office.

By combining these two functions in one room, you provide your family with an area where anyone can just go if they need someplace quiet to do their homework, read a book, or concentrate on their task.

Please also read our article to help you answer the question, “Is this house TOO big for me?”

Sources

How Much Square Footage Fits Your Family?

The Ideal House Size And Layout To Raise A Family

Siblings Sharing A Room: Guidance

6 Go-To Multipurpose Room Ideas